For some, having kids is something they can’t wait to do. They dream of being a mother and as soon as the little blue line appears on a pregnancy test kit, they are delighted. For others, motherhood is more of a happy accident. They say that life is never the same again once kids come along and this is very true. Having a child to take care of means you are forced to think about someone else for a change and, hopefully, ditch your selfish ways. Having a child is also very stressful and unless you learn to deal with the stress, you will end up poorly and your relationships will suffer.
Coping with Sleep Deprivation
When children are small, they don’t always sleep well. Babies and toddlers are often awake for hours every night, crying and screaming, which makes it very difficult as a parent to function during the day. It is even worse if you are a working mother trying to hold down a job and make ends meet.
If you only have one child that doesn’t sleep, you must try and catch a nap whenever he or she does decide to drop off. This won’t be easy if you work during the day, but try talking to your manager and explaining the situation so it doesn’t look too bad if you crash out for half an hour on your desk. Make sure you share the workload if you have a partner and give each other the night off at least once a week. Alternatively, hand over baby to a trusted relative for a few hours at the weekend so you can catch up on your sleep.
Having more than one child is more problematic, but again, do try and catch up on sleep whenever you can. It is easy to look around and see what needs doing – ironing, washing, and cooking – but give yourself a break and ignore the piles of clothes or dusty shelves. Sleep is arguably more important right now.
Coping with Stress Triggers
A lack of sleep of can trigger depressive illnesses in mothers with a young family, but sleep or no sleep, stress management is important. The more kids you have under the age of seven, the harder it is to deal with everyday events. When kids behave, they are little angels, but when they decide to run riot, it is all too easy to lose control of the situation.
To deal with screaming babies, toddler tantrums and 5 year olds refusing to co-operate, take a deep breath and calm down. The more anxious and stressed you become, the harder it will be to cope. If necessary, call in a friend or relative to help you manage your brood. Trips to the store are a lot easier when you have two pairs of hands.
Take Time Out
It is important that you have a break from time to time. We all need space to relax and unwind .If you are dealing with small children plus sleep deprivation for days and weeks on end you will soon begin to unravel. Call in a babysitter or relative to stay with the kids for a few hours while you have a date night with your other half or pampering session at the nail bar.